Fifty years ago, the 'J.L. Roberts' barge lay idle on the riverbank at Echuca and few people, had they taken notice of the wasting vessel, would have thought that half a century later, the same barge would be playing a major role in the Murray Valley Tourism Industry.

Today that barge is the hull of the popular accommodated cruise vessel, the Paddleboat 'Coonawarra', which operates 3 day, 5 day and weekend cruises from the port of Mildura.

The Coonawarra was built onto the barge by Captain H.H. 'Paddy' Hogg, a long time river skipper, and shipwright and paddleboat identity, Charlie Felshaw. It was built for the passenger coach company, Murray Valley Coaches. At the time the Coach Company was operating passenger services between the capital cities and the concept of having their own paddleboat operating pleasure cruises out of Echuca, gave them an opportunity to gain additional passengers on their coaches from the capital cities to Echuca. They had already operated such a vessel named the 'Murrumbidgee' from Echuca also built by Captain Paddy Hogg and as well, skippered by him. The Murrumbidgee operated very successfully for some time until it was destroyed by fire (whilst on a cruise). This disaster caused something of a problem for Murray Valley Coaches and they quickly resolved to continue the profitable cruise operation with another vessel. The Company commissioned Paddy Hogg to find a suitable replacement vessel or to find a suitable hull on which to built a new vessel.

Paddy Hogg recalled that as he travelled along the Murray in his search of such a vessel, the prices of existing boats and barges soared very considerably and finding a suitable vessel or hull proved difficult. In the end it was decided to use the old 'J.L. Roberts' barge (already owned by the Company), and work commenced immediately near Echuca in 1949. The Coonawarra took it's first passenger cruise from Echuca on October 12th, 1950, with Paddy Hogg as skipper.

The vessel has operated continuously ever since, first from Echuca and then, when the Coach Company ceased business, it was sold and operated in South Australia for three decades.

In recent years the boat was purchased by Mildura interests and since then the Coonawarra has operated out of Mildura.

Today the Coonawarra is hardly the same as when it was built. Structurally, it has the same hull and the same basic appearance, the same paddlewheels and it still caters for around 40 passengers. However, over recent years it has undergone a series of updating renovations. For example, it is now completely air-conditioned and has fully self contained passenger cabins (with the exception of 4). Despite the modernisation and passenger comforts onboard, the Coonawarra still retains the charm and atmosphere of a bygone era and is an authentic Murray River Paddleboat.

One interesting thing about the Coonawarra is that when it was originally built, materials and equipment from famous old paddlers were used - the paddlewheels from the 'Excelsior' - girders, shafting and paddleboxes from the ill fated 'Murrumbidgee' and the six foot steering wheel from the 'Murrabit'